Poots welcomes fall in Greenhouse gas emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Ireland have fallen by 13% since 1990, a new report revealed today.

According to the latest figures in AEA Technology’s, ‘Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland’, carbon dioxide emissions also decreased in that time by 9%. The main reasons for these reductions are due to decreases in emissions from electricity supply, waste management, agriculture and domestic use.

Environment Minister, Edwin Poots welcomed the positive trends and said: “These falling figures are evidence that we are all becoming more environmentally aware and I wish to commend everyone who has played their part in helping to continue the downward trend in these harmful emissions. Targets on reductions in greenhouse gas emissions set by the Executive are also now well on track to be met."

The Minister outlined steps that could be taken to further increase the downward trend: "At home you should consider turning down the heating, switching off lights when necessary and turning off appliances on standby. Businesses should also take steps to be more energy efficient and consider renewables. The recent launch of my Department's new planning policy statement on renewables should assist the growth of alternatives to fossil fuels.”

The report is compiled annually on behalf of the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the devolved administrations. It presents estimates of greenhouse gas emissions inventories for the constituent countries of the UK.

Six greenhouse gases are reported on: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFC), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).

Notes to editors:

1. The latest figures on Northern Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions (1990-2007) are published by AEA Technology (AEAT). AEA Technology is under contract to the Department of Energy and Climate Change to produce inventories on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
2. AEAT continually attempts to revise and improve data acquisition and estimates of greenhouse gases in the report. Changes are applied to all historic figures as well as the latest year. Revisions to methodology can substantially affect the figures produced. The full report can be found on the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory website
3. The Programme for Government commits Northern Ireland to a reduction of 25% in greenhouse gas emissions and 30% CO2 emissions to below 1990 levels by 2025.
4. The Climate Change Act 2008 contains targets to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions by 80% in 2050 on 1990 levels.
5. Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 18 sets out the planning policy for development that generates energy from renewable resources. Details can be found on the Planning Service website
6. For media enquiries please contact DOE Press Office 028 9054 0014 or out of office hours, contact the EIS Duty Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.